Irish National Joint Registry: a concept

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Health Informatics
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• National joint registers are crucial for monitoring joint replacement outcomes and improving patient care.
• Despite established benefits, Ireland has not yet implemented a national joint registry.
• Understanding surgeon perspectives is key to addressing barriers to registry establishment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess consultant orthopaedic surgeons' and specialist registrars' opinions on establishing an Irish National Joint Register.
• To identify potential reasons hindering the implementation of a national joint registry in Ireland.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire study was conducted among orthopaedic surgeons and specialist registrars in Ireland.
• A 69% first response rate was achieved, gathering data on opinions and concerns.

Main Results:

• Overwhelming support exists for establishing a national joint registry, with 97% believing it is time to proceed.
• 81% advocate for compulsory participation by surgeons and hospitals.
• Significant concerns were raised regarding patient privacy and liability issues, with 58% worried about public access to reports and potential medico-legal implications.

Conclusions:

• There is strong consensus among Irish orthopaedic professionals to establish a national joint registry.
• Addressing privacy and liability concerns through appropriate legislation is essential for successful implementation.
• Legislation is recommended to safeguard the integrity of data within a national joint replacement registry.